Cable separator and yoke



Aug. 1?, 11948. J B. K. NEWMAN 2,447,025

I CABLE SEPARATOR AND YOKE Filed May 25, 1945 Arraewsy Patented Aug. 17, 1948 OFFICE CABLE SEPARATOR YOKE Bruce K. Newman, United States Army,

St. Louis, Mo.

Application May 25, 1945, Serial No. 595,865 3 Claims. (01. 24 115) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a device for holding cables, and more particularly to a device for separating and compactly gripping and yoking together a plurality of insulated electric conductors or the like.

In instances where a plurality of telephone, telegraph, or power cables or conductors are hastily laid on the ground as is sometimes necessitated by the exigencies of combat conditions, it frequently becomes necessary to repair such cables quickly. By the use of my device it is possible to grip securely and separate the various electric conductors into various groups for quick and easy identification that will speed up repair work in the field.

It is an object of my invention to provide an inexpensive and simple device that will permit rapid segregation and firm holding of a plurality of separate electric conductors or the like.

This and other objects and advantages will become readily apparent from the following specification, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which the figure is an isometric view of one embodiment of my invention.

Referring now to the figure, it is seen that the reference numeral I refers to a spacer of spiderlike configuration having radial projections ll spaced about a center [2. A strap l3 having a sliding encircling clip l4 thereon is secured at its base to one of the radial projections by rivets l5. In the embodiment illustrated, the separator is formed from a band metal strip that is bent to the proper shape to form six elongated loops radiating from a common center (constituting the projections l I) and having the two ends forming opposed sides of one loop riveted together with one end of the strap l3 between and fixed to them. The separator as well as the strap [3 may be formed of metal, or if desired, may be formed of a non-metallic material having sufiicient strength for the purpose.

In the embodiment shown, the radial projections II are shown to be the loops before mentioned, Wedge-shaped in cross section, having their broadest dimensions at the farthest point from the center of the device. It is obvious that this may be modified so that the radial projections l l taper inwardly from the center if it is so desired.

Further 'modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the separator may be formed en bloc of either metal or a non-metallic substance. The strap l3 may be joined to the separator in other ways than that illustrated, as for example, by brazing, welding, etc.

In use, respective conductor units may be found extending from a communication center along a common route for a distance, some of which units may thereafter branch to respective destinations. In this common path all the units are held together in yokes It at short intervals. The units (each of which may be a single wire, a pair, several pairs, or a cable) are brought close together and each unit laid in a respective b-ight between two of the loops, forming a main trunk. The units may equal or be fewer than the number of bights, in which event one or more bights may remain vacant. By numbering these units as arranged, say, clockwise around the axis of the spider looking in the direction of departure from the communication center, and wrapping the strap l3 similarly clockwise, the group for a particular remote point may be identified anywhere along the trunk by its position in-my device. When the units have been laid in the spider, or as they are so laid, the strap is bent concentrically around the spider and against the outer broad parts of the loops so as to close the bight spaces therebetween and bring the extremity or tip of the strap closely over and upon its base portion, or beyond. The clip is then slipped back upon and around the tip and base ortion of the strap and held while the end of the strap is pulled outward through the clip until the spider is bound as tightly as desired, after which the outer part of the strap beyond the clip is bent sharply back upon the clip, securely locking the device upon the conductors.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for securely holding a plurality of electric conductors or the like in desired spaced relationship, comprising a spacer of spider-like configuration having radial elements projecting from the center thereof and of a length to receive therebetween respective conductor groups, a flexible strap secured to one of said radial elements and of a length to encircle the spider so as to close all the spaces between said radial elements, and a clip slidably mounted on said strap constructed to secure said strap releasably in encircling engagement with the spider.

2. A device for securely holding a. plurality of electric conductors or the like in desired spaced relationship, comprising a spacer of spider-like configuration having radial elements projecting from the center thereof, said spacer being formed loops broad at outer parts each loop having sides 5 convergent into close relation at their bases, all

said loops being symmetrically and radially arranged with their bases close to a common center a strap fixed with the material of the loops so that it may be bent into encircling relation. around the outer parts of the loops, and means to secure the strap in close encircling relation to the loops for 4 retention of conductor elements in the spaces between said loops.

BRUCE K. NEWMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following'references are of record in the file of this patent:

7 UNITED STATES PATENTS liurnber Name Date 686,440 Bucklin Nov. 12, 1901 931 706 Stevens Aug. 17, 1909 'l',467,539 Draper Sept. 11, 1923 1,652,114 Fu-llington Dec. 6, 1927 v FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 41,2-18- Norway Apr. 14, 1925 108,233 Switzerland Jan. 2, 1925 

